Follow Your Curiosity

CPT #85: The Power of Community

A lot of creative work happens in solitude, but it doesn't have to be that way. Community can be one of your greatest creative tools--I explain why in this short episode, and issue an invitation as well!

Sign up for one of this month's Creative Community sessions here, and invite a friend!

 

Could you leave a review? It's really easy, and it helps SO much. Thanks!

Want more tips? Check out this playlist with all my previous Creative Pep Talks!

Imagination, Editing, and Writing with Steve Cole

My guest this week is Steve Cole, a bestselling children’s author of more than 200 books.  Those books cover many styles and children’s genres, with titles including the Astrosaurs and Young Bond ranges, Go to Sleep or I Let Loose the Leopard, and most recently, Drowning in my Bedroom. Steve is also the creative consultant for BBC Books' Doctor Who list, as well as project editing and writing titles. Steve and I talk about how TV influenced him as a child, beginning his career in editing, how he moved into writing—and how his editing background influences his writing—and more.

Read this week's post, The World is Your Creative Fuel, here.

 

Episode breakdown:

00:00 Introduction

01:56 Creative child, loved words, invented imaginative worlds.

05:24 Teacher encouraged imaginative storytelling.

07:39 Writing became unexpected career path.

10:43 Fascination with Incredible Hulk, from production to details.

15:05 Influential writer Enid Blyton's office and typewriter.

16:59 Published short poems on aliens in space.

22:35 Manage 22 novels, videos, audios, and more for BBC Doctor Who range.

25:18 Transitioned from editing to writing children's books.

29:53 Managing editor at Ladybird, facing challenges.

32:13 Writing books on various popular children's shows.

36:48 Pitch: "Star Trek with dinosaurs. Instant publisher interest."

40:21 Authors be clever, editors be wise.

41:57 Juggling edits for US and UK publishers.

47:38 Doctor Who authors now pursue other endeavors.

50:06 Editing for renowned authors was thrilling and intimidating.

 

Check out the full show notes (now including transcripts!!) at fycuriosity.com, and connect with me and fellow creatives on Substack.

Please leave a review for this episode—it’s really easy and will only take a minute, and it really helps me reach new listeners. Thanks!

If you enjoyed our conversation, I hope you’ll share it with a friend.

Want more? Here are handy playlists with all my previous interviews with guests in Doctor Who and writing.

 

CPT #84: Ask for Help

Too often, in our creative lives (and everywhere else), we think we have to go it alone. It's okay, though, to ask for help, and I tell you why in this short episode.

 

Could you leave a review? It's really easy, and it helps SO much. Thanks!

Want more tips? Check out this playlist with all my previous Creative Pep Talks!

Read this week's post: Get in Trouble

 

If you'd like to:

• Engage with your creative dreams with ease and joy
• Feel both more confident in yourself and your work, and more vibrant than you have in years
• Take time each day to do the things that light you up
• Feel the freedom of following your own inner guidance and the delight that comes with creative activity

Book a free 30-minute coaching call with me! Here's what we'll do:

• You'll tell me about your creative dreams 
• We'll look at what's getting in the way
• If you're someone I can help, and we both want to...
• ...I'll share more about the Reignite Your Creative Spark program

The Evolving Landscape of AI in the Arts with Simon Guerrier

My guest this week is Simon Guerrier, a writer and producer who has written numerous books related to Doctor Who, produced five documentaries for BBC radio, and more than 70 audio plays for Big Finish Productions, as well as comics and short stories. He also chairs the Books Committee for the Writers' Guild of Great Britain. Simon talks with me about how he got his start in writing and producing—including just what a producer does—the value of negotiating arrangements that work in everyone’s best interest, the impact of new tools like ChatGPT on creative careers and the creative process, his new book about television pioneer David Whitaker, and more. 

Read this week's article, on what Ella Fitzgerald can teach us on rolling with what life hands us, here.

Want to Reignite Your Creative Spark? Contact me here.

Episode breakdown:

00:00 Introduction

08:07 Simon arrived at university alone, connected with English tutor, talked sci-fi.

13:37 Received unexpected validation, leading to pursuing Doctor Who novel submission.

19:18 Advert to management led to diverse projects.

24:36 Producers oversee production, manage money, and ensure payments.

28:44 Beryl Vertue valued fair, lasting relationships over winning in negotiation.

37:09 AI has many uses, but may miss the point of creativity.

43:45 Negative atmosphere on Twitter overwhelms real conversations and connections.

49:49 Connecting with people on Twitter leads to opportunities and potential.

51:14 Choosing joy and creativity over anger and self-doubt.

01:00:41 Teaching and learning through doing and mentoring entry-level positions.

01:05:28 Fascination with AI in science fiction and cautionary tales.

01:08:25 Following the threads of the freelance life.

 

Check out the full show notes at fycuriosity.com, and connect with me and fellow creatives on Substack.

Please leave a review for this episode—it’s really easy and will only take a minute, and it really helps me reach new listeners. Thanks!

If you enjoyed our conversation, I hope you’ll share it with a friend.

Want more? Here are handy playlists with all my previous interviews with guests in Doctor Who and writing.

 

CPT #83: Be Gentle

This is one of the simplest tips, but one of the hardest to do, with ourselves most of all. Here's why we should give it a try anyway.

 

Could you leave a review? It's really easy, and it helps SO much. Thanks!

Want more tips? Check out this playlist with all my previous Creative Pep Talks!

Read this week's post: Get in Trouble

 

If you'd like to:

• Engage with your creative dreams with ease and joy
• Feel both more confident in yourself and your work, and more vibrant than you have in years
• Take time each day to do the things that light you up
• Feel the freedom of following your own inner guidance and the delight that comes with creative activity

Book a free 30-minute coaching call with me! Here's what we'll do:

• You'll tell me about your creative dreams 
• We'll look at what's getting in the way
• If you're someone I can help, and we both want to...
• ...I'll share more about the Reignite Your Creative Spark program

The Art of TV Music with Dominic Glynn

My guest this week is Dominic Glynn, a prolific composer for film and television. Dominic got his start working on Doctor Who, and has provided music for titles as diverse as Red Dwarf and The Simpsons. Dominic tells me how his career began in the mid-80s as a self-taught musician, how incidental music works, what it’s like to write for an orchestra, and more. 

Read this week's article, on why you should make bad art, here.

Want to Reignite Your Creative Spark? Contact me here.

Episode breakdown:

00:00 Introduction.

04:55 Member of band transitioned to solo career.

06:25 In the 80s, got obsessed with affordable synthesizers.

10:22 Confidently sought job with Doctor Who in 1984.

13:24 Affordable technology enabled music production from home.

18:27 Editing music reel with time-coded leader tape.

22:00 Working on music synchronization for VHS episodes.

24:50 Luck played a part in minimal changes.

27:40 Excessive music in TV/films can ruin impact.

30:31 Music can enhance storytelling in low-budget productions.

32:41 Cartoon character's appearance affected by budget constraints.

35:50 Electronic music lover disappointed in orchestral shift.

41:31 Doctor Who's evolution from theater to cinema.

44:00 Creating music similar to popular soundtracks for music libraries.

45:29 Unexpectedly finding music in beloved TV shows.

51:06 Creating music that emulates the 50s-60s hits.

54:24 Composer entrusts scoring to orchestra, marvels at musicians' skill.

 

Check out the full show notes at fycuriosity.com, and connect with me and fellow creatives on Substack.

Please leave a review for this episode—it’s really easy and will only take a minute.

If you enjoyed our conversation, I hope you’ll share it with a friend.

Want more? Here are handy playlists with all my previous interviews with guests in Doctor Who and music.

Make Bad Art

Last month, I invited you to give yourself Permission to Play. I had so much fun meeting some of you, and seeing what came out of those workshops, that I've decided to keep doing them.

This month, I'm inviting you to get together with me to Make Bad Art. I know that sounds backwards, maybe even crazy, but I promise there's a method to my madness!

In two minutes, I'm letting you behind the curtain on this "backwards" idea, and if that's not enough to convince you, you can read more about the power of making bad art here.

Give yourself this powerful gift by joining us on Sunday, June 9 at 1pm New York time here. Or join us on Saturday, June 15 at 4pm New York time here. It's totally free, and you're welcome to bring a friend if you like (just have them register, too, so I have an accurate head count)! If you have any questions, please get in touch!

See you there!

CPT #82: It's Okay Not to Know

Every last one of us got through school, and probably work, by knowing the answers most—if not all—of the time. Is that actually necessary? NOPE. And it can even hinder your creative process. I'll tell you why in this short episode.

 

Could you leave a review? It's really easy, and it helps SO much. Thanks!

Want more tips? Check out this playlist with all my previous Creative Pep Talks!

Read this week's post: What tech has taken from us, and how to get it back.

 

If you'd like to:

• Engage with your creative dreams with ease and joy
• Feel both more confident in yourself and your work, and more vibrant than you have in years
• Take time each day to do the things that light you up
• Feel the freedom of following your own inner guidance and the delight that comes with creative activity

Book a free 30-minute coaching call with me! Here's what we'll do:

• You'll tell me about your creative dreams 
• We'll look at what's getting in the way
• If you're someone I can help, and we both want to...
• ...I'll share more about the Reignite Your Creative Spark program

Creativity and Self-Discovery with Ellen Kaplan

Ellen Kaplan is an actress, writer, and director, and professor emerita of acting and directing at Smith College. She performs and directs internationally, in places like Pakistan, China, Israel, Costa Rica, Argentina, and Puerto Rico, and she recently edited the new book Theater Responds to Social Trauma: Chasing the Demons. Ellen joins me to talk about her work in and out of the classroom, dealing with “the shoulds,” how easy it is to get in our own way, why we are each a culture unto ourselves, what we’ve each learned from our students, and more. 

Read this week's article, on how Apple accidentally told the truth about technology and creativity, here.

 

Episode breakdown:

00:00 Introduction

03:15 Self-discovery through teaching experiences

08:42 Importance of humility, listening, and respect

12:27 Cultural differences observed while teaching ESL

18:15 Embracing individuality in students

22:30 Influence of "should" on decision-making

28:05 Pressure of being an expert vs. staying open to learning

34:14 Value of revision in the creative process

38:50 Saying yes in improv and life

44:35 Creating healing spaces through storytelling

48:52 Career serendipity and intrinsic experiences

54:18 Commodification's impact on creativity

58:23 Kitsugi and the beauty of imperfections

01:03:41 Ellen's work in conflict zones and peace efforts

01:09:56 Improvisational recalculating of identity and work

 

Want to Reignite Your Creative Spark? Contact me here.

Check out the full show notes at fycuriosity.com, and connect with me and fellow creatives on Substack.

Please leave a review for this episode and in it, tell us about a time when you got in your own way.

If you enjoyed our conversation, I hope you’ll share it with a friend.

Want more? Here's a handy playlist with all my previous interviews with guests in theatre.

CPT #81: It's Okay Not to Finish

We're all told that we have to finish the things we start. But is that true? NOPE. I'll tell you why in this short episode.

Could you leave a review? It's really easy, and it helps SO much. Thanks!

Want more tips? Check out this playlist with all my previous Creative Pep Talks!

Read this week's post: What tech has taken from us, and how to get it back.

 

If you'd like to:

• Engage with your creative dreams with ease and joy
• Feel both more confident in yourself and your work, and more vibrant than you have in years
• Take time each day to do the things that light you up
• Feel the freedom of following your own inner guidance and the delight that comes with creative activity

Book a free 30-minute coaching call with me! Here's what we'll do:

• You'll tell me about your creative dreams 
• We'll look at what's getting in the way
• If you're someone I can help, and we both want to...
• ...I'll share more about the Reignite Your Creative Spark program